Detroit Lions 2018 draft results: FB Nick Bawden goes in the seventh round

The fullback is back in Detroit. With their seventh-round (and final) pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Lions have selected San Diego State fullback Nick Bawden.

This is the first time the Lions have taken a fullback in the draft since taking Michael Burton in the fifth round in 2015. Burton was only on the team for two years before the Lions essentially dropped the fullback position from their roster.

Bawden met with the Lions back during the Senior Bowl in January. You can read our full profile of Bawden here, but below is a snippet:

San Diego State’s Nick Bawden, believe it or not, converted from quarterback to fullback in college. The transition paid off, as his work at fullback helped make D.J. Pumphrey the leading rusher in NCAA Division I history. He also helped propel the career of teammate Rashaad Penny, who rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2017 and is projected to go in the first two days of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Lions’ running game is entering a new era, and it appears a fullback may be a part of that new era. Welcome to Detroit, Nick!

Previous Detroit Lions draft picks:

• Round 1, Pick 20 - C Frank Ragnow, Arkansas
• Round 2, Pick 11 (43 overall) - RB Kerryon Johnson, Auburn
• Round 3, Pick 18 (82) - DB Tracy Walker, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Round 4, Pick 14 (114) - DL Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama
• Round 5, Pick 16 (153) - OL Tyrell Crosby, Oregon

Top remaining needs for Lions:

• Defensive end
• Offensive guard
• Defensive tackle
• Running back
• Safety
• Linebacker
• Wide receiver
• Cornerback

Unless the Detroit Lions decide to trade back into the draft, their 2018 NFL Draft is over. But that is only part of today’s events. Stick with us as the team decides to sign a handful of undrafted free agents over the next few hours. We’ll have a UDFA tracker up shortly.